Birth Alfred Offord (Ford)

[Annette7]

That's brilliant, keyboard86.   That has to be him although presumably no one ever told him he was actually born in Ireland!

Don't know if this is already known, but Alfred Thomas Offord spent 4+ years in the army - shown as born 1852 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire so must surely be him.   He enlisted 18/6/1870 at Westminster, Middlesex in the 76 Regiment of Foot and was discharged in Secunderabad, India on 22/1/1875 being found unfit for further service.   This would explain why he can't be found on 1871 census as he was already in India.   I won't go into further detail in case all this is known already.   I was hoping to find next of kin details but nothing is shown.

I also noted that on NSW deaths when he died in 1929 his age is given as 78 suggesting a birth date of 1851.

So, whilst we now have a connection to his maternal grandparents unfortunately we don't yet know his mothers name nor where his father came from or when/where his parents married.    I wonder if his father was also in the Army hence Alfred being born in Limerick.

Definitely a major step forward for Rob.

Annette

[Annette7]

Don't know if it's a simply a 'red herring' but the Neather's had a daughter Eliza bc.1831.    In the Dec. quarter of 1850 at Wolstanton, Staffordshire an Eliza Neather married and one of the 4 possible grooms is an Albert (not Alfred) Offord.   This is a year before AT's birth.......

Anyone have access to Staffordshire marriages?

I can't find any reference to an Albert Offord before the marriage.

Annette

[sunshine333]

Wow, you wonderful people, thanks, On his death it stated his mother was Elz. no father mentioned....I only have lhr. on a library computer, so if I am slow getting back thats why.I will study what you have found and get back to you.....Rob

[sunshine333]

Hi, I am so grateful you found my Alfred Thomas Offord, is there any chance of finding his birth in Ireland c 1852? also where on-line would I find the info re him being in India in the army?...Rob

[Annette7]

Alfred Thomas Offord's army service records can be found on FindMyPast - if you are not a subscriber you can purchase credits to view copies of the original documents.   Costs £6.95 for 60 credits which are valid for 90 days.

Civil registration in Ireland didn't start until 1864 - however, I googled 'Births in Limerick' and the first on the list was limerick.rootsireland.ie - clicked on that which brings up a list of parishes.   You have to register (which I did as it was free) and your first search is free.   I just entered surname Offord, nothing else, and 2 baptisms came up - one of them is Alfred Thomas Offord b.1851 Co. Limerick.    It costs 25 credits to be able to view it and checking it seems you can buy 25 credits for 5 Euros.

So, unfortunately it looks like you will have to spend a little money to proceed i.e. credits to view Alfred Thomas' baptism in Limerick, purchase of marriage certificate of parents (to ascertain details given for his father: age if given, confirmation that he was Albert (and not Alfred), occupation, likewise his fathers name/occupation, and credits for service records.   However, you say you've been looking for ATO's birth for years so surely it will be worth it.

Let us know what you find out.

Annette   

[sunshine333]

Hi Annette, thanks for all the help ....Rob 

[sunshine333]

Hi Keyboard and Annette, I now have the birth of Alfred Offord ....born 22-7-1851 Bapt.30-10-1851, Father Alfred Offord, soldier, 63rd regt. Castle Barracks, Mother Elizabeth...Thanks for all your help with it....could anyone give me info re service record of Alfred Offord (father) of 63rd regt....just when he was born and where,  would be great.... Rob    

[Annette7]

Hi again Rob

The bad news is that there is no service record for a likely Alfred (or Albert) Offord - nor indeed for any Offord in the 63rd Regt. (which at that time was 63rd. (the West Suffolk) Regiment of Foot).

The possible good news is that I think I could have identified this individual but this all depends on you getting the marriage certificate of Albert Offord and Eliza Neather - Staffordshire BMD site confirms that these 2 did marry each other but it was a civil marriage (not in a church) so no-one can look this up for you.   If his father is shown as a Robert Offord then I believe I've found your man and can understand why his christian name has caused such confusion.

A Robert Offord (bc.1800 Westhorpe, Suffolk) married a Susanna Goold 24/5/1825 Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk and they had 4 children there:

ALBAN bp.15/1/1826
Robert bp.28/10/1827, bur.22/2/1829
Robert bp.11/4/1830
Samuel bp.5/5/1832, bur.9/5/1832

Susannah bc.1796 bur.21/8/1832 Thorpe Morieux.

Robert remarried to a Frances Tracey, widow on 9/6/1835 Brettenham, Suffolk and in 1841 they are in Brettenham with Alban (transcribed as Albion) and Robert junr.   

Only Robert junr. is with them in 1851 and I cannot find Alban anywhere - I think this Alban could be the Albert (?) who married Eliza Neather in 1850 in Staffordshire.   I don't think he can have been in the army for very long.

Alban Offord married in Lancashire in 1858:

Alban Offord, 32, widower, Police Man, son of Robert Offord,  married Elizabeth Stubbs 22/9/1858 Horwich Chapel, Lancashire (per Lan-opc).

Bearing in mind that 'Alban' is missing in 1851 Census and that there is no earlier marriage in that name prior to 1858 I think that this is the guy who married Eliza Neather in 1850 and who were subsequently in Ireland in 1851.  I suspect Eliza may have died in Ireland and that Alban returned to the UK and and took their child to her parents who subsequently raised him.

I won't start listing all the census details for Alban from 1861 in case I'm wrong but suffice to say that he's a Policeman (on Railway) 1861 In Roade, Northamptonshire, 1871 (Watchman) and 1881 (Brewers Labourer) at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.      His death is recorded in Burton upon Trent in 1921 aged 95!  He had at least 5 more children with his 2nd. wife.

Robert senior is living with Alban (transcribed as Allan) and family in 1881 so left Suffolk in his old age.

Everything hinges on the marriage certificate of 'Albert' Offord in 1850 and that it states his father as Robert.

Fingers crossed.

Annette

[sunshine333]

Hi Annette, thanks for so much info...I will check it out...I have found a marriage which I would like your opinon on - a Alfred Thomas Oyford - butcher- full age, widower,married 3l-8-1884 Brondesbury, Christ Church,Brent...to Hill Ireloor...groom's father - Thomas Joseph, wife's father - George Ireloor...on Aflred Thomas Offord (jnr) marriage 1-8-1881 to Mary Ellen Walsh at Fulham - he stated his father was Alfred Thomas Offord - clerk.I think he is my guy...the marriage is on Ancestry London. marriages...could you have a look, I could not decipher what Thomas Joseph (father)'s occupation was...or George Ireloor.  I hope I am not imposing, but appreciate so much the help from Roots...Rob